New York is a Giant Birth Control Pill

[Myrtti]

Originally Posted by Cricket Tragic

2) higher standard of living of those in cities compared to rural areas
3) greater opportunities for young people leading to a delay in marriage/serious cohabitation and having children

In what way is the standard of living bigger in cities than in rural areas?

There are great opportunities for young people in countryside too, you just have to seize them and make a bigger effort.

[Cricket Tragic]

Originally Posted by Myrtti

In what way is the standard of living bigger in cities than in rural areas?

There are great opportunities for young people in countryside too, you just have to seize them and make a bigger effort.

In many developed countries, the average income of households in urban areas is greater than that of households in rural areas, leading to a higher standard of living as defined for economic purposes. There are certainly opportunities in rural areas, but these are fewer and therefore harder to access.

[forfi]

What you mean in economic terms Cricket is that city folks owe more than country people.Most of the city people that I know live in mortgaged homes and drive big cars which are owned by the banks and are in debt up to their eyes.

[Myrtti]

Ok. I just consider the standard of living as something more than just owning a lot of stuff.

[Wobs]

Originally Posted by include

Two new studies have suggested that cities act like contraceptives, helping to check the population growth that has become one of the most discussed environmental issues in recent years.

Cities 'are like giant contraceptives' - Telegraph

Reproducing in Cities -- Mace 319 (5864): 764 -- Science

Sex in the City should be a clue (or should that be Sluts in the City?)

[Myrtti]

Originally Posted by Wobs

Sex in the City should be a clue

Yeah but that's fiction. If there was a reality show called Sex in the City, then it would be different.

[Wobs]

Originally Posted by Cricket Tragic

Some of the possible reasons contributing to smaller families in big cities are likely to be:

1) cost of housing being higher, particularly cost of larger houses tending to restrict family size choice

True in many cities.

2) higher standard of living of those in cities compared to rural areas

Hmmm, depends on what you define for standard of living. I'm certainly enjoying a high standard of living as I have numerous bars and resteraunts within a 2min walk of my house, but many don't see much green open space.

3) greater opportunities for young people leading to a delay in marriage/serious cohabitation and having children

Certainly, but that could be an effect rather than a course. Fewer people have kids, so market forces dictate that there will be more opportunities for adults to spend money on themselves.

4) more work opportunities resulting in women choosing to have smaller families and spend more of their time in the workforce.

Choose? Sure you don't mean forced to because the man's salary is no longer big enough to afford a house?
Or could that be connected with 3?

[debsgreen]

Originally Posted by Wobs

Choose? Sure you don't mean forced to because the man's salary is no longer big enough to afford a house?
Or could that be connected with 3?

My sister chooses to work, although her husband makes plenty of money. I really think it's fifty/fifty that women choose to work, and some have to work to supplement their husband's income. But trust me, that forced thing is really a balancing act. Day care is so incredibly expensive that what a woman makes in a week, has to be worth the costs. Daycare, traveling to work, eating out or buying convenience food because now you are too tired and don't have time to cook. So if a woman feels "forced" to work, it's not as easy as you think it may be. I think some woman choose/feel forced to work, more for reason number two, they want a higher standard of living; the bigger house, country club, gas guzzling car, etc.

Unless your my sister, or someone like her, she likes to work and is very career driven.

[Wobs]

The majority of working mothers would gladly give up work to stay at home, or work part time.

Most mums 'want to stay home with the children' | the Daily Mail
"Most mums 'want to stay home with the children'"
"The most popular response, given by 50 per cent, was to be a 'mum who works part-time'. "
"...just six per cent wanted to work full-time."

Cash and working mothers | the Daily Mail
"Three out of four mothers only go back to work because they need the money"

But then there's:
Stay at home? Go to work? Why women don't know WHAT they want! | the Daily Mail
"Stay at home? Go to work? Why women don't know WHAT they want!"

Your sister sounds like the exception rather than the rule. As you say though, the specifics are always complex in what actually happens, in terms of child care, and costs etc. We all know that child car is expensive.

I think some woman choose/feel forced to work, more for reason number two, they want a higher standard of living; the bigger house, country club, gas guzzling car, etc.

That's not a good reflection on them! But yes, I've known some that have forgone such luxuries for their kids.

PS. Forgive the source of the information. It will be offset by buying the Guardian tonight. And the Observer at the weekend.

[forfi]

There is no forgiveness for DailyWail readers,just stoning after Friday prayers ,sorry Wobs.As for the Granuaid and the other unmentionable.......burning at the stake.Thus it is written,don't come whinging to me lad